It was a Wednesday night game in Philadelphia. It wasn't against a heated rival and, like so many other games, it was another lopsided victory.

Yet o

It was a Wednesday night game in Philadelphia. It wasn't against a heated rival and, like so many other games, it was another lopsided victory.

Yet on Feb. 1, the game at Temple drew more eyeballs in the New York market than any UConn women's basketball game televised by SNY since the network began carrying the Huskies in 2012. In the New York market, the game had a higher rating (.49 household rating, according to SNY) than college basketball games on ESPN2, ESPNU and FS1, and it rated higher than the Nets-Knicks game on YES, a game that drew a higher rating on MSG.

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In the Hartford-New Haven market, the game at Temple was the highest-rated UConn telecast on SNY in two years.

Think people are getting bored with UConn's continuous winning? The numbers say otherwise.

Maybe it's because UConn's winning streak — 98 games and counting — is bringing new viewers. According to SNY, ratings have been up all season in Connecticut and New York. Through 13 telecasts on SNY, UConn's household rating in the Hartford-New Haven market (5.71) is up 17 percent over last season through the same period and up 31 percent over two seasons ago.

Since UConn won the record-setting 91st consecutive game on Jan. 14 at SMU, the SNY ratings are 6.41 in the local market. Two of the past three telecasts have exceeded a 7.0 rating.

On Tuesday night, the UConn-Cincinnati game drew a 7.05 ranking locally and a .36 in the New York market. SNY reported that the game out-rated 12 of 14 prime-time hours in Hartford-New Haven, including the entire lineups on ABC, NBC, Fox and CW.

In the New York market, the UConn-Cincinnati game beat the Nets-Hornets game on YES, the Kings-Lightning game on NBCSN, and four college basketball games on ESPN2 and ESPNU.

Reminder: It was a UConn at Cincinnati on a Tuesday night in February.

"Maybe because of the streak or because non-women's basketball people are talking about it," Auriemma said.. "Maybe it's because [men's basketball analyst] Jay Bilas tweeted something. I don't know. Maybe just more people are saying, 'Hey let me see what this is all about, the novelty of it, let me see.' … Look, we already have a great following. We're already getting some great ratings in Connecticut, in the Tri-State area. But if you had said to me, the game we won that was No. 91, that was huge. Or the Baylor game. … But Temple?"

The interest in New York is significant, of course. When UConn was bidding for a spot in the Big 12, the school's alumni base in the Tri-State area was a selling point, along with its pull in the New York media market. Remember the "Sixth Borough" campaign?

Athletic director David Benedict said the athletic department's New York presence remains a priority. Benedict, who came to UConn from Auburn 11 months ago, got his first taste of the New York-UConn connection in December.

"The first time I could really feel it was earlier this year when the men played Syracuse at the Garden," Benedict said. "That was as close to an NCAA Tournament type experience without being in the tournament, that I've seen. With that and then you see the ratings that are taking place, we certainly have a big-time presence in New York. I think it's a huge statement."

The other eye-opener for Benedict? The popularity of Auriemma's program all over the country. The ratings represent a snapshot of how popular the program is in the region and are a sign that this team — which has exceeded all expectations at 23-0 — is resonating with people.

But traveling around the country with UConn offers a glimpse at the program's national brand. At each road game this season, UConn has drawn one of the largest crowds of the season for the host team: 12,528 at Kansas State, 17,950 at Maryland, 7,553 at Nebraska, 9,149 at Notre Dame, 4,753 at Florida State, 4,029 at Cincinnati, 4,371 at Temple, 4,539 at UCF, 3,878 at SMU. UConn is averaging 6,402 in 12 road games.

And many of the buildings are full of local fans wearing UConn apparel, whether it's Dallas, Philadelphia, Orlando, Fla., or Lincoln, Neb.

"Really, it transcends just Connecticut," Benedict said. "All of the young, aspiring youth women's basketball players in the country, I'm sure are fans of this program. So we have a brand that spreads across the entire country and I think we can do a much better job in doing things with our women's basketball program, that will only raise the program."

In fact, Benedict said he has talked to Auriemma about capitalizing on his team's success. "I don't think as an athletics department that we're doing a good enough job as we could of leveraging the brand that he's built," Benedict said.

One idea from Benedict is to create a "multi-team event" built around UConn. Think of an early season tournament anchored by the Huskies.

"Having UConn there is a huge draw," Benedict said. "You've see the men in college basketball do some creative things like playing on an aircraft carrier, doing some things that are fun, that raise the profile, and are great experiences and opportunities. It's no different than what we're doing in football next year, playing at Fenway Park. There are opportunities to do some things that are unique. … It's an unbelievable opportunity, I think, not just to help UConn and build our brand, but to build a brand of women's college basketball, which I think is something that's very important to Geno."

That's another important part of the ratings boost. By drawing new viewers to women's basketball, UConn would appear to be raising the profile of the sport.

Auriemma hopes UConn's success will lead fans to pay closer attention to the sport and perhaps watch non-UConn games. But he also concedes that his program is unique, that there are few programs — men or women — capable of attracting so much interest.

He tells the story of recruiting Kalana Greene out of tiny St. Stevens, S.C. On a visit, he asked her what professional teams she favored. Greene named the Yankees and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Like so many kids in small towns all over the country, Greene was drawn to two franchises with national brands.

Auriemma's program?

"You know what? We're like the Yankees or the Dallas Cowboys," Auriemma said. "That's where we are."